UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #1135 | Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement

Submission information

Submission Number: 1135

Submission ID: 20271

Submission UUID: 22022bcd-96ca-4183-a261-72dc8af5c253

Submission URI: /urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal

Submission Update: /urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?token=UZgTqC6eYlVrtd3W2hbQ5tE4E2swbHaganonoJ_8SWU

Created: Wed, 08/13/2025 - 06:37 PM

Completed: Wed, 08/13/2025 - 06:52 PM

Changed: Mon, 08/25/2025 - 01:31 PM

Remote IP address: 99.1.246.223

Submitted by: Anonymous

Language: English

Is draft: No

Webform: UROP Project Proposal Portal

Submitted to: UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal

Research Mentor Information

Primary Research Mentor Name Richard Waters

Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns {Empty}

When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific? {Empty}

Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated) rdw22@fsu.edu

Position Title Faculty

FSU College (if applicable) Communication and Information

FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation School of Communication

Headshot (optional)

Additional Research Mentor(s)

Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from above) {Empty}

Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Pronouns {Empty}

Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Honorific? {Empty}

Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated) {Empty}

Name of Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) (if applicable) Eldaneka Rolle

Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Pronouns {Empty}

Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Honorific? {Empty}

Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated) etr22b@fsu.edu

Overall Project Details

Title of the Project Using Pop Culture to Analyze Hidden Meaning in "Garbage Pail Kids" Trading Cards

Project Keywords Trading cards, Pop Culture, Toys, Content Analysis

Are you currently looking for research assistants? Yes

Number of Research Assistants Needed 2

Relevant Research Assistant Major(s) Open to anyone interested in communication, sociology, demography, political science, education, social work, marketing

Project Location: On FSU Main Campus

If the project location is off campus, does the research assistant(s) need to provide their own transportation? {Empty}

Please select the choice that most accurately describes your expectations for the research assistant(s): Partially Remote

Approximately how many hours a week would the research assistant(s) need to work? 5-10 hours per week

Roughly what time frame do you expect research assistant(s) to work? Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)

Overall Research Project Description UROP participants will work under the guidance of the professor and graduate student to analyze what cultural and societal trends are represented in the 1980s "Garbage Pail Kids" trading cards. The directory of cards is located online (https://geepeekay.com/). Students will work with graduate students to develop questions that will be used to analyze the different cards throughout the full collection so that the graphic design and card portrayals can be analyzed.

Research Tasks Students will work with the professor and graduate student to create categories for the questions about the Garbage Pail Kids cards and then collect data from the online resource. If students wish to work on statistical analysis after the data has been collected, I'm more than happy to have them assist with data analysis. I want to ultimately pursue publishing the research in a journal when it's finished, so help with writing a literature review and discussion is also helpful.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Ability to think creatively when looking at an artistic presentation of the cards is recommended.

Mentoring Philosophy I am looking to work with a FSU UROP student who wants to explore their creative side. Garbage Pail Kids cards are something that I grew up with in the 1980s and 1990s and now want to explore them to see what I didn't notice as a child. I want to work with someone who is curious about these artistic presentations to better understand the trends presented and then reflect on what these mean in greater society. I am fairly open to the working situation and can work remotely or in meetings when they're needed. I imagine an ideal mentor relationship is one where we work together and each offer ideas for the project. I don't want someone who is simply wanting to carry out my project. I want someone who is interested in exploring their own ideas.

Please provide a link to your publications, a video clip, or a website for your research project (if applicable): https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Richard-Waters-2

Please add any additional information here (if applicable): {Empty}

Are you interested in participating in the UROP Research Mentor Roundtable? Yes

Roundtable times and Zoom links Tuesday, Sept 2, 2025, from 12:30-2:30 pm (https://fsu.zoom.us/j/99935256931)

Roundtable Info

Day: Tuesday, September 2
Start Time: 12:30
End Time: 2:30
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/99935256931

UROP Program Elements

Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication Yes

UROP Performance Evaluation Yes

Materials Grant Yes

UROP Poster Presentation Yes

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Year 2025

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